CONTACTS:
THE TREISTER mURRY aGENCY
(305) 531- 5720
duree Ross
DureeRoss@aol.com or
Emily Treister
Emily@tma-pr.com
HAUTE COUTURE, STAR-STUDDED PERFORMANCES AND A GALA AWARDS SHOW CONCLUDE 11TH ANNUAL MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK™
MIAMI - March 30, 2009 - More than 10,000 designers, buyers, models, celebrities, VIPs, fashion aficionados and fashion media from around the world took part in the 11th annual Miami Fashion Week® from March 19 through March 22 at the Soho Studios in Miami's trendy Wynwood Art District. The most globally diverse Miami Fashion Week ever featured personal appearances by 60 designers from all four corners of the Earth, including: Dubai, Pakistan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Belgium, Spain and Italy, as well as from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
From the opening night that featured reigning Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza and reigning Miss USA Crystle Stewart and a performance by Patricia Manterola, to the final curtain call honoring Special Guest Designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Miami Fashion Week delighted, inspired, captivated and entertained sold-out, standing-room-only crowds throughout its four-day run. Seen throughout the week were actress Sofia Comparini; stage, movie and television star Alejandro Chaban; actor Gabriel Porras; television personality María del Carmen Sojo; and actress and former Miss Panama Patricia De León, among many others. Musical performances included recording artists Alexia and Ria.
Wrapping up Miami Fashion Week on Sunday, March 22, was Spain's Agatha Ruiz De La Prada who wowed the audience with her vibrantly colored, whimsical collection for Fall '09 that was dedicated to Salvador Dali and surrealism. Attending Sunday night's festivities were actress Elsa Pataky, model Elena Tablada, journalist Chabeli Iglesias, reigning Miss Spain Elisabeth Reyes and upcoming reality TV star Curtis "CJ" Joseph.
Also on Sunday the 22nd, the star-studded Miami Moda and Music Awards® fused fashion and entertainment into an awards show featuring designers, celebrities and international recording artists. Romance radio personality Ileana Garcia and MEGA TV's Alan Villafañe emceed the awards show excitement. Celebrity presenters included American actor Vincent De Paul from the movie "Poseidon" and the original cast of "Hairspray," Mexican actress Angelica Celaya, and South Florida diva Elaine Lancaster. Grammy Award winning songstress Albita brought the crowd to its feet with her new single, "Mis Tacones" ("My Heels"), from her newly released album.
Those taking home the coveted Miami Moda and Music Awards were:
Designer of the Year - Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Spain
Celebrity Style in Music Award - Albita
Designer Choice Award - Furne One for Amato Couture, Dubai
Excellence in Eveningwear Award - Franco Montoro, Venezuela
Prêt-a-Porter Style Award - Damaris Rubio, Dominican Republic
Men's Style Award - Munib Nawaz, Pakistan
Tiffany Jewelry Design Award - Amaloa Bonvecchio, Amaloa Art to Wear, USA
Creative Accessories Design Award - Laura Pimentel & Aleksandar Kirilov for LaLucca Bags, USA
Top Model Award - Taylor K., Elite Model Management
Emerging Designer of the Year - Romina Heighes
Student Graphic Design Award - Pamela Roca, Miami AD School
Student Designer of the Year - Benjamin Lear, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
A portion of the proceeds from Miami Fashion Week benefits the Miami Fashion Week Foundation, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering the international design industry through mentoring programs, scholarships and training programs targeting students and emerging designers who are involved in MFW design competitions.
For more information on Miami Fashion Week®, visit www.miamifashionweek.com.
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About Miami Fashion Week®:
Beth Sobol, president of Sobol Fashion Productions, Inc., founded Miami Fashion Week® in 1999 following a successful career as an international fashion model. She has worked with many of the fashion world's most influential designers and producers and launched Miami Fashion Week to provide a platform for designers from Latin America to gain international exposure. During the past eleven years, MFW has evolved into one of the world's premier fashion events spotlighting designers from Europe, USA and Canada, the Caribbean, Middle East and Asia as well as the largest showcase of Latin American design talent in the world.
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